9/24/03
Hillary Almost Closes the Door on '04
"Never say never" must be Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's motto, because she continues to sprinkle denials that she's interested in the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination with hints she'd accept a draft. That's exactly what happened Wednesday morning when she deflected questions about her plans and told a breakfast meeting of reporters that she's got bigger fish to fry as New York's junior senator.
"That's not what I think about," she said of running for president. "I think about the job I have. I think about the obligations I have."
While she whispered "no" when asked if there was any circumstance she could think of that would prompt her to run, Clinton never said, well, never. "I'm not running" was her strongest statement.
But she sure sounded like a candidate, attacking President Bush's policies in Iraq, on the economy, and on the environment. "They are pushing an extremely right-wing agenda outside the mainstream of American thought," she says.
What's more, she said that a woman would soon enough emerge as a winning presidential candidate, but she didn't say who. Clinton, dressed in hot pink and sipping tea, said, "Now if I talk about women running for president, I don't want you to read anything into it."
Looking at the hurdles any woman would face in deciding to run, she said, "It depends upon the candidate, it depends upon timing, issues, message. So I can't come up with any sweeping generalizations, but I think it's obviously something that has to come to fruition."
Also, despite reports that the Clintons are backing retired Gen. Wesley Clark, she refused to endorse him or even praise him over the other nine Democrats and instead said simply that she'll work to elect whomever the Democrats pick–or draft.
"I just have this overriding goal," said Clinton, "and that is to help elect a Democratic president. I am convinced totally that four more years of this administration, unaccountable, no election at the end, would be an overwhelming setback for our country. And I will do everything that I can to elect whoever emerges from this process."
9/12/03
The good Germans
German
diplomacy may stink, but not the Navy. To display
respect on 9/11, the frigate Niedersachsen, out on
NATO maneuvers, broke with strict protocol and put
its entire crew on deck–in dress blues–to salute
the passing USS Doyle. What's more, it flew Old
Glory from the main mast. "Needless to
say," says Vice Adm. Timothy LaFleur,
"the whole crew was choked up."
• View the photo here.
9/11/03
They're already flocking to Clark
Wes Clark mania threatens to go nuclear next week if, as expected, he becomes the 10th and last candidate to join the nine other running for the Democratic presidential nomination. Whispers learns that once in, top Democratic elected officials, strategists and donors are ready to join the Clark Brigade. Many of Clark's team-in-waiting are Clintonistas , like the former president's handyman, Bruce Lindsey, scandal spokesman Mark Fabiani, and maybe even ex-deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes, who's close to New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Also, New York Rep. Charles Rangel has pledged to round up endorsements from House and Senate members. What's more, www.DraftClark2004.com, the Web site that's cheering Clark's entry, has lined up 200 coordinators in all 50 states, says spokesman Michael Frisby, president of Frisby & Associates, a Washington-area PR firm. And forget about that talk that all the retired four-star general and former NATO boss wants is the veep nomination. Supporters say that's a dirty-tricks campaign pushed by rival Howard Dean who's scared of a Clark candidacy. Says Frisby: "Wes Clark firmly believes that he is the best choice to be president, not be vice president or hold any other government post."
http://www.draftclark2004.com/
The site of Clark supporters
9/10/03
McAuliffe wants Clark in by September 25
Likely presidential hopeful Wesley Clark has told Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe that he's "very close" to getting into the primary race. McAuliffe's reaction: Good, just do it before the September 25 Democratic debate in New York City.
McAuliffe revealed Wednesday morning that he and the retired NATO boss and four-star general talked on the phone Tuesday night about the primary fight, which already includes nine candidates. McAuliffe suggested that Clark get in. "In his heart, he really wants to do it," said McAuliffe.
"The more the merrier," said the chatty DNC boss. "It would be very good for the Democratic Party to have a four-star general traveling around the country." McAuliffe added that even though the primaries look crowded, there remains enough time for more candidates to join. For proof, he noted that Bill Clinton didn't enter the 1992 campaign until October 1991.
In addition to talking his plans over with the DNC, Clark has also reached out to the teams wooing the general through the www.draftwesleyclark.com and www.draftclark2004.com Internet sites. Party leaders say his meeting this week with the Web team is further evidence of his plans to run.
Behind the scenes, Democratic Party officials say it's a lock that Clark will get into the race, though he's playing hard-to-get. Party chiefs want Clark in the race to inoculate the presidential field against charges from the White House that the Democrats don't have any military experience.
http://www.democrats.org/about/bios/mcauliffe.html
Meet Terry McAuliffe
http://www.draftclark.com
The unofficial Clark site
9/9/03
Crooning for Democratic dollars
Democrats looking to boost their confidence along with the campaign
coffers will throw a little party for themselves in October that features crooner and lifelong Demo Tony Bennett. The private concert and reception will be held at the posh Washington home of BET founder Bob Johnson. Fewer than 100 people are to attend, but the take is expected to reach $250,000. Bennett, an 11-time Grammy Award winner, will have a lot of material to choose from. He could do his signature "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who will attend. He could do "New York State of Mind" for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. The proceeds of the evening will go to Rep. Charles Rangel's National Leadership PAC.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strID=C00302588
Info on Rep. Rangel's political action committee
http://www.bet.com/
BET's site
http://www.tonybennett.net/
Sony's Tony Bennett site
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